Lea Schäfer Email and Phone Number

Building the first AI-powered voice mental health companion, Clare. Clare follows an innovative approach to self-help, using voice and phone conversations to get users to talk about their mental health. The tech-only approach bridges the gap between rising demand and limited supply and aims to reduce stigma and barriers to enable people to get support anywhere and at any time.

My research interest lies in AI-driven mHealth interventions and in particular smartphone-based chat-bot interaction or voice-bot interactions. Asking myself a lot of questions about this topic, such as what kind of interactions take place between humans and bots? What role does the gender of the bot play? What do humans talk about with a bot? How can a voice bot interact with humans and also can a voice bot allow for emotional and cognitive reflection similar to what is done in CBT? If a therapeutic alliance is created between humans and bots - how strong is it and how can one compare this to the one that takes place in face-to-face interactions/therapy? This feasibility study will primarily focus on the nature of the interaction between an AI voice bot and users and secondly on how it works (impacts on self-reflective abilities, emotional competencies, mental health, stress-levels etc.).

Der Förderkreis für seelische Gesundheit e.V. betreut psychisch kranke Erwachsene in der Versorgungsregion Wedding.

Max-Planck-Institut für empirische ÄsthetikAs a student assistant, I work in the department of language and literature and support various different studies in the field of literature and art, be it qualitative or quantiative, with children or adults.

Die Traumaambulanz bietet für erwachsene Frauen und Männer, die Opfer einer Gewalttat geworden sind, psychotherapeutische Unterstützung (Opferentschädigungsgesetz OEG).

Whilst this research internship I was involved observing and participating in anestablished Australian research project under the supervision of Mr Christoph Werner MSc within the Placebo Lab of Associate Professor Ben Colagiuri. For further information see http://sydney.edu.au/science/people/christoph.werner.669.php

Taking part in the editing process of a publication by Prof. Dr. Michèle Wessa on neural correlates of psychological disease at the JGU at the department of neuropsychology in Mainz. Literature research, sorting of novel insight in the field of neuropsychology as well as discussions on novel publication are part of my daily work here.Moreover, as a student assistant I support a study on emotional regulation under stress, which takes place in the framework of a DFG research project 1193 („Neurobiologie der Resilienz gegenüber stressinduzierter psychischer Dysfunktion: Mechanismen verstehen und Prävention fördern“). Here, my tasks include coordinating with future participants, organizing and contact establishment, participant data base update as well as SKID screenings for instance.

Working in a female only housing project with up to twelve young women from the age of 14-18 years - night shifts as well as day shifts. Coordinating daily to-dos, counseling, keeping track of their schedules as well as being there in case of emergencies. Being in close contact to their parents, the police if necessary, as well as the Judendamt in Mainz. Guiding and supporting them in case of daily worries as well as making sure that everyone is safe and taken care of. Next to that, my tasks included reporting to my co-workers after every shift, filling out protocols on any matter that occurred. Moreover, as a team we had meetings twice a month speaking about particular cases of girls, taking part in supervision including reflecting upon ourselves in certain situations. Further, during my work here I had the chance to take part in a conflict management workshop for one day, where I learned how to react to stress and violence within the housing facility in a more confident matter.

At Oxfam Germany e.V., I work in the fundraising and communications department. My work included, communicating with sponsors, organizing the fundraising event or travel campaigns in order to raise funds for Oxfam. Furthermore, I took part in the interviewing and selection process – contacting future participants, interviewing and selecting them etc.,

Writing Tech-related articles for the Website, Volunteer Management for the Torstraßenfestival 2015, Taking part in daily meetings to plan upcoming events as well as coordinate and support the management of events, such as re:publica - the leading conference on the digitalisation of the society.

The Observant included a column by me about Maastricht's city life, upcoming events, activities in and around Maastricht, student life and cultural artistic events: "Whether it’s dancing in imaginary Glastonbury festival wellies or sitting at a lake, surrounded by flowers and playing children; liberal arts and sciences student Lea Schäfer writes about it in her new bi-weekly column “Through the eyes of a G(raduate)” on www.observantonline.nl. She describes her experiences of Maastricht’s events, cafes, shops or restaurants and shares her feelings as a graduate – be it scroogy, happy or confused."

With the support of the European Commission internship program, I interned at Schön! Magazine in London in the field of PR, media and event organization. As public relations assistant, I got in personal contact with the clients via email or phone and supplied them with information on our concept as well as the media kit and advertising opportunities. As a media assistance, Lea did a lot of research, organized the data base and was following up the mailing lists and maintained client contacts. In the field of event organization, I assisted the event manager by finding potential sponsors and providing them with information on the event, the magazine and their advertising opportunities.

Internship (DE) in the field of fashion journalism and PR (e.g., Wordpress, Writing short articles/product descriptions, assisting in fotoshootings)